CBI probe against Jagan; YSR Congress in disarray

Andhra Pradesh high court's order for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the massive assts of YS Jaganmohan Reddy has plunged his fledgling YSR Congress party into confusion. The latest development may even lead to desertions from Jagan's camp.

Even as Jaganmohan Reddy tried to put up a brave front by saying that justice will ultimately prevail and God was there to ensure justice, other party leaders were in a dilemma as they see the court orders as a major blow to the party and its image.

Some of them have privately expressed apprehensions that sooner or later the investigations will lead to arrest of Jaganmohan Reddy leaving the newly launched party headless.

However, there are some in the party who believe that Jagan's mother and member of assembly Vijayalakshmi can lead the party in Jagan's absence and reap a sympathy wave.

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There were apprehensions in the party that HC order will drastically change the situation in which many Congress MLAs supporting Jagan may start rethinking about their future.

Till now more than 20 Congress MLAs and two members of Lok Sabha have openly aligned themselves with Jagan. However, with the high court delivering a blow and the central government all set to tighten the screw on Jagan through the CBI as well as the income tax department, many are likely to switch their loyalties.

The state Congress president, Botcha Satyanarayana, ever since he took charge, has been actively working to wean Congress MLAs away from Jagan's hold and many Congress leaders feel that the latest development has given him a good opportunity to speed up his efforts.

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In his first reaction to the high court order, Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that the Congress and Telugu Desam Party had entered into an immoral nexus against him. Talking to the media after attending an iftar party in Kadapa district, Jaganmohan Reddy said that he was being victimised for standing by his word that he will continue all pro-poor policies and programs of his father late YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

Jaganmohan Reddy said that soon after he had quit Congress party, he had received a notice from the income tax department. Subsequently the Congress party made Minister P Shankar Rao file a petition in the high court against him. "I have full faith in judiciary", he added.

However, party sources say that privately Jagan was worried over the course of events in the days to come. He reportedly told some of his close confidantes that he was in a difficult situation now.

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Officially, the YSR Congress party said in a statement that it respects the high court's orders. But other leaders of his party were talking in different voices. B Karunakar Reddy said in Tirupati that Jagan will appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court orders. Former minister Konathala Ramakrishna expressed confidence that Jagan will successfully come out of the conspiracy by the ruling and opposition parties.

Meanwhile, speculations have also started on who else could be in the dock in connection with Jagan's assets cases. The CBI has said that it will initiate measures after getting a copy of the high court orders.

There are indications that apart from Jagan, the CBI will also question his close confidant Ambati Rambabu, who was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation in the YSR government.

Several ministers of YSR cabinet and his close friend and advisor K V P Ramachandra Rao are also likely to be questioned by the CBI about various decisions including the allotment of lands and contracts to different companies that later invested huge amounts of money into Jagan's companies.